Receptacle disposal container adapter

ABSTRACT

An auxiliary device for adapting small containers to the hoist and dump arms of disposal vehicles is provided. A spanning bar to fit the usual load arms is provided with locking apertures to receive the narrower spaced lugs of containers for ready handling of same with the usual equipment.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1962 Freaney........................

United States Patent [72] Inventor Augustus L. Newton 211 Riverthom Road, Baltimore, Md. 21220 Appl. No. 876,441

7/1964 Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant ExaminerJohn Mannix Attorney-Walter G. Finch 1 [22] Filed Nov. 13, 1969 [45] Patented May 25, 1971 [54] RECEPTACLE DISPOSAL CONTAINER ADAPTER 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

ABSTRACT: An auxiliary device for adapting small con- 214/302, tainers to the hoist and dump arms of disposal vehicles is provided. A spanning bar to lit the usual load arms is provided with locking apertures to receive the narrower spaced lugs of containers for ready handling of same with the usual equipment.

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PATENTED W25 nan $5 0 40 sum 1 [IF 2 L /N l/E N T 0/? A. L. NEWTON (.v V MQMW ATT AWE) PATENTEU HAYES I97! sum? or 2 RECEPTACLE DISPOSAL CONTAINER ADAPTER This invention relates generally to article-handling equipment, and more particularly it pertains to an adapter for accommodating different sizes of receptacles on the elevating mechanism of rubbish collecting trucks.

A disposal truck operation called upon to service establishments having massive amounts of refuse requires large container handling capability. However, these big container handling vehicles are not suitable for those clients which use small containers. In the past, it has been the practice to use separate trucks for the two sizes. This practice requires a duplicating of vehicles as well as the service routes and is expensive especially for a small operator.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide an adapter for converting large width container handling equipment to receive smaller width containers.

Another object of this invention is to provide a readily attachable adapter which may be carried on large container service trucks to adapt them to handling small containers with a minimum of trouble.

Other objects and attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent and understood from the following detailed specification and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the container dumping area of a typical refuse collection truck showing the method of handling containers;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the novel adapter of this invention for converting the dumping mechanism of FIG. 1 for handling smaller containers;

FIG. 3 is a plan view, partly broken away, illustrating details of the adapter; and

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3 illustrating the engagement of the container lug with the adapter.

As shown in FIG. 1, thecustomary refuse truck is provided with a pair of spaced arms 12 which pivotally engage with studs 14 that project oppositely from the ends of the large containers 16 normally serviced.

A pair of hoist cables 18 engage with hooks or handles 20 on the container 16 and as the container 16 is hoisted thereby, the arms 12 swing up to position 12 and the container 16 is tilted to position 16' so as to dump the contents of the container 16 into the disposal opening 22 of the truck 10. The empty container 16 is then lowered and disengaged from the hoist cables 18 and anus 12.

Smaller containers 24, such as illustrated in phantom in FIG. 2, have a pair of spaced forwardly extending parallel lugs 26 which are not engageable by the arms 12 as used for large wide container 16, and, in addition, have a hook configuration as formed by a notch 28 near the ends.

An adapter 30 is proposed for use with such small containers 26. This adapter 30 is shown best in FIGS. 3 and 4 and consists of a long, shallow channel stock housing 32 having a backplate 34 and end plates 36, all welded together. The front of housing 32 is pierced at two spaced points with rectangular apertures 38 which will pass the container lugs 26 with ease.

A sliding lock block 40 is supported within the housing 32 upon short lengths of angle 42 so as to overlay the upper part of each aperture 38. A short length of round rod is welded to the upper part of the housing 32 to form an upper restraining member 44 for the sliding blocks 40.

A connecting rod 46 joins these lock blocks 40 and extends to the right where it is pivotally attached to the exterior of housing 32 to terminate as a handle portion 50.

Vertical containment plates 52 are welded inside the housing 32 adjacent each side of the apertures 38 for strength, rigidity, and lug guidance, and engagement blocks 54 are similarly located below their bottom edges. A pair of adapterhanging studs 56 are welded to the top of the housing 32 and extend outwardly from the ends. These studs 56 are spaced and dimensioned to be identical to the studs 14 which are provided on the standard large containers 16.

Accordingly, in use, the adapter 30 is engaged by the arms 12 of the truck 10 as shown by FIG. 2, and thus supported, is

maneuvered into position where the lugs 26 of a small container 24 will enter the apertures 38 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, with the lock blocks 40 retracted by handle 50.

The adapter 30 is then raised slightly and the notches 28 of the lugs 26 in their new position 26' hooks over the engagement block 54. At the same time, the rear wall of the container 24 abuts with a pair of spaced pads 58 secured to the face of the adapter 30. By means of the handle 50, the lock blocks 40 are moved across the tops of the lugs 26 to retain them in place.

The hoist cables 18 are then attached to the handles 60 of the container 24 and the latter may be raised and tilted to empty the contents into the disposal opening 22 of the truck.

Where mixed large and small containers 16 and 24 are to be handled, a hooklike protrusion 62 may be welded to each load arm 12 to serve as a rapid engagement means for the studs 14 of the large containers 16. It is then unnecessary to remove the adapter 30, since it readily swings out of the way, but is always ready for use where needed.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

lclaim:

I. An auxiliary adapter device for adapting a small container to the hoist system and spaced dump arms of a disposal vehicle, with said container being of substantially less width than the distance between said dump arms, comprising, a container having spaced lug members on opposite sides thereof extending outwardly therefrom, means including a spanning member for said container spaced therefrom and having spaced locking apertures provided therein for receiving and engaging said spaced lug members of said container, means for locking said spaced lugs in said apertures in said spanning member, spaced engageable members on said spanning member arranged to engage said spaced dump arms of said disposal vehicle, and means for coupling said hoist system to said container for dumping of said container into said disposal vehicle.

2. An auxiliary adapter as recited in claim 1, and additionally means for releasing said locking means so that said spaced lug members can be withdrawn from said spaced locking apertures of said spanning member after said container has been dumped into said disposal vehicle.

3. In combination with a disposal vehicle having a hoist system and spaced dump arms, an auxiliary adapter for adapting a container of substantially less width than the distance between said spaced dump arms of said disposal vehicle, with said container having spaced lug members on opposite sides thereof extending outwardly therefrom, said adapter including means having a spanning member for said container spaced therefrom and having spaced locking apertures provided therein for receiving and engaging said spaced lug members of said container, means for locking said spaced lugs in said apertures in said spanning member, spaced engageable members on said spanning member arranged to engage said spaced dump arms of said disposal vehicle, and means for coupling said hoist system to said container for dumping of said container into said disposal vehicle.

4. The combination as recited in claim 3, and additionally means for releasing said locking means so that said spaced lug members can be withdrawn from said spaced locking apertures of said spanning member after said container has been dumped into said disposal vehicle.

5. An auxiliary adapter system for adapting a small container to a rubbish disposal vehicle having a dumping mechanism including a pair of hoist cables and spaced dump arms of substantially greater width therebetween than the width of said container, comprising, structure defining a container having a pair of forwardly extending parallel spaced lug means and a pair of handles all oppositely positioned on opposite sides of said container, each said lug means having a hook configuration formed by a notch near its free end, an adapter for said container having spaced apertures provided therein for passing said container lug means therein, means in said adapter for receiving said lug means, means for locking said lug means in said receiving means, said adapter having means positioned at opposite ends thereof and extending outwardly for engaging said spaced dump arms of said rubbish 

1. An auxiliary adapter device for adapting a small container to the hoist system and spaced dump arms of a disposal vehicle, with said container being of substantially less width than the distance between said dump arms, comprising, a container having spaced lug members on opposite sides thereof extending outwardly therefrom, means including a spanning member for said container spaced therefrom and having spaced locking apertures provided therein for receiving and engaging said spaced lug members of said container, means for locking said spaced lugs in said apertures in said spanning member, spaced engageable members on said spanning member arranged to engage said spaced dump arms of said disposal vehicle, and means for coupling said hoist system to said container for dumping of said container into said disposal vehicle.
 2. An auxiliary adapter as recited in claim 1, and additionally means for releasing said locking means so that said spaced lug members can be withdrawn from said spaced locking apertures of said spanning member after said container has been dumped into said disposal vehicle.
 3. In combination with a disposal vehicle having a hoist system and spaced dump arms, an auxiliary adapter for adapting a container of substantially less width than the distance between said spaced dump arms of said disposal vehicle, with said container having spaced lug members on opposite sides thereof extending outwardly therefrom, said adapter including means having a spanning member for said container spaced therefrom and having spaced locking apertures provided therein for receiving and engaging said spaced lug members of said container, means for locking said spaced lugs in said apertures in said spanning member, spaced engageable members on said spanning member arranged to engage said spaced dump arms of saId disposal vehicle, and means for coupling said hoist system to said container for dumping of said container into said disposal vehicle.
 4. The combination as recited in claim 3, and additionally means for releasing said locking means so that said spaced lug members can be withdrawn from said spaced locking apertures of said spanning member after said container has been dumped into said disposal vehicle.
 5. An auxiliary adapter system for adapting a small container to a rubbish disposal vehicle having a dumping mechanism including a pair of hoist cables and spaced dump arms of substantially greater width therebetween than the width of said container, comprising, structure defining a container having a pair of forwardly extending parallel spaced lug means and a pair of handles all oppositely positioned on opposite sides of said container, each said lug means having a hook configuration formed by a notch near its free end, an adapter for said container having spaced apertures provided therein for passing said container lug means therein, means in said adapter for receiving said lug means, means for locking said lug means in said receiving means, said adapter having means positioned at opposite ends thereof and extending outwardly for engaging said spaced dump arms of said rubbish disposal vehicle, with said hoist cables simultaneously being attached to said handles of said container, whereby upon operation of said dumping mechanism of said rubbish disposal vehicle, said container may be raised and tilted to empty the contents thereof into the disposal opening of said rubbish disposal vehicle. 